Eight Nights of Flirting

Golden Doors #2

by Hannah Reynolds

A Sydney Taylor Honor Book

A sixteen-year-old girl is on a mission to find the perfect boyfriend this Hanukkah, but love might not go according to plan, in this charming winter romcom from the author of The Summer of Lost Letters.

Shira Barbanel has a this Hanukkah, she’s going to get a boyfriend. And she has the perfect candidate in mind—her great-uncle’s assistant, Isaac. He’s reliable, brilliant, and of course, super hot. The only problem? Shira’s an absolute disaster when it comes to flirting.

Enter Tyler Nelson, Shira’s nemesis-slash-former-crush. As much as she hates to admit it, Tyler is the most charming and popular guy she knows. Which means he’s the perfect person to teach her how to win Isaac over.

When Shira and Tyler get snowed in together at Golden Doors, they strike a deal—flirting lessons for Shira in exchange for career connections for Tyler. But as Shira starts to see the sweet, funny boy beneath Tyler’s playboy exterior, she realizes she actually likes hanging out with him. And that wasn’t part of the plan.

Amidst a whirl of snowy adventures, hot chocolate, and candlelight, Shira must learn to trust her heart to discover if the romance she planned is really the one that will make her happiest.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Holiday, Christmas, Contemporary, Jewish, Young Adult Romance

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Hi everyone! I'm Hannah Reynolds, the author of A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DATING A DEMON, a cozy romantasy out Spring 2026. I'm also the author of the GOLDEN DOORS series, three contemporary romances filled with family secrets and history set on the New England island of Nantucket.

Reviews

[Rhonda 🌒🌕🌘 🐈‍⬛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 🌟 *rounded down
4/5 🎭C
3/5 ❤️‍🩹
5/5 ❤️
0/5 🔎
0/5 😰
0.5/5 🌶️

⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️

Using someone to achieve a goal

*I don’t recall anything being triggering other than possibly taking someone for granted

🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️

A sixteen-year-old girl is on a mission to find the perfect boyfriend this Hanukkah, but love might not go according to plan, in this charming winter romcom from the author of The Summer of Lost Letters.

Shira Barbanel has a plan: this Hanukkah, she’s going to get a boyfriend. And she has the perfect candidate in mind—her great-uncle’s assistant, Isaac. He’s reliable, brilliant, and of course, super hot. The only problem? Shira’s an absolute disaster when it comes to flirting.

Enter Tyler Nelson, Shira’s nemesis-slash-former-crush. As much as she hates to admit it, Tyler is the most charming and popular guy she knows. Which means he’s the perfect person to teach her how to win Isaac over.

When Shira and Tyler get snowed in together at Golden Doors, they strike a deal—flirting lessons for Shira in exchange for career connections for Tyler. But as Shira starts to see the sweet, funny boy beneath Tyler’s playboy exterior, she realizes she actually likes hanging out with him. And that wasn’t part of the plan.

Amidst a whirl of snowy adventures, hot chocolate, and candlelight, Shira must learn to trust her heart to discover if the romance she planned is really the one that will make her happiest.

🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔

This second book in this trilogy was also well written but less poignant. Yes, there was still some important coming of age issues to deal with and equally important messages as the first book had. Lessons to learn from. This book was quite a bit more comedic than serious but that just made the characters even more likable. This book also had some fictional history that I enjoyed but the type of story that could have possibly been nonfictional or based on actual stories and happening in the early 1800’s of Nantucket.

*rounded down because I wasn’t as emotionally attached to Tyler and Shira as I had been with Noah and Abby’s story.

RATING KEY:

🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️‍🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scary - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy

[aarya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

First impressions: This made me so happy. At first I thought this was a standalone, but now I’m not so sure. It works better as a companion to THE SUMMER OF LOST LETTERS, especially if you want to fully understand the grandparent hostility storyline. RTC when it’s not midnight.

***

Okay, I was expecting to enjoy this because the previous installment (featuring Shira’s cousin Noah) was cute and because I love the author’s contemporary romance novels under a different pseudonym. But I was not expecting EIGHT NIGHTS OF FLIRTING to grip me by my heart and squeeze it tightly. I loved it all: Shira’s boisterous and loving Jewish family, the Hanukkah traditions, the practice flirting lessons, the mystery subplot about nineteenth century Nantucket whaling (yes, I’m serious), and just… everything. Reynolds just knows how to craft a well-paced YA romance with multiple storylines (this is rarer than it sounds, so I’ll give flowers where it’s deserved!).

But the real reason this story resonated was Shira, a teenager who felt all too similar to my own teenage experiences. I’m not Jewish, but Shira’s anxiety surrounding friendship/flirtation is so relatable. It’s absolutely true that some people are experts at putting themselves out there in a social setting. And then some people, like Shira and me, struggle heavily and wonder if we missed the memo on how to be a teenager. Also: it is 100% possible to be lonely in a large family while still having a loving relationship with everyone.

These aren’t perfect comps, but I’d recommend Reynolds for fans of Jenn Bennett and Sarah Dessen, even if HR doesn’t get as angsty. I semi-regret reading in June because this is SUCH a perfect winter read (seriously, they get snowed in and don’t have electricity for a night), but I guess that’s what audiobook rereads are for!

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute YA Hannukah Romance. I skimmed a lot of it. I have learned something about myself. Perhaps I kind of already knew. I am not a real fan of YA - unless its done very very well. Had this not been a Chanukah Romance, I probably would have dumped it. But it was cute and sweet, and well you know the cute story in advance, if not from the title, or the book jacket, simply from the trope. But I started it on Chanukah Day Five, Night Six, and finished it less than 24 hours later. By the time we light the Seventh Candle, Shira and Tyler will be long forgotten. Already forgotten. Do you know I had just closed the book less than ten minutes ago, and was already struggling to recall Shira, our main heroine's name? Halfway through this early morning finish, I was already planning my next book. Which will be.... Ta Da..... Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen. Its holiday and miracle time. Feels like the perfect end of the year book.

Want to know what I have out here in Colorado? Other than the Winners and Eight Nights of Flirting?

I have.... Other Birds, Dial A for Aunties, and its sequel Four Aunts and a Wedding. I got Dial A out of the library, because I already own FA and a W, and its actually high on my TBR so I knew I would have to get the first of the trilogy first. I like to bring books I own out to visit my parents, because I can give them away, leave them on the plane, and not have to bring them back, like I have to slog all the library books back. I also have the Messy Lives of Book People, which I already own. Its also a quickie and even with those three and Other Birds, I sort of don't see that one making it home. I have another library book out here too. Just in case. But I think I won't need it. Its Flieschman is in Trouble. Why? Because I think my husband and I are going to watch it on Netflix soon, and I kind of want to read it first or I won't. I have such wonderful books planned for January and I simply can't wait! Plus, I will be surprised by my two Subdue the Shelf books! So now its just knocking these out. I am on vacation with my family, this should be easy to do. Plus, there is a plane ride back, and an entire day of New Years Eve Day back home to work with. Completing the Year.

Happy Holidays Everyone. This was my least favorite of the Chanukah Romances, and there are quite a few good ones. But it you like YA meet cute, Chanukah love for the 18 year old set, than this is certainly for you. One last note. I have always liked the name Shira - it means To Sing. There is a beautiful round called Hava NaShira (kind of have a little song) and my middle son's Hebrew Name is Chaim Shir - "Life of Song." Shain is named for my husband's grandmother Ida, who's Hebrew Name was Chaya (Life). Chaya/Chaim means Life. To Life, L'Chaim. Remember the famous Fiddler on the Roof song? We named him Shain, because he told us in a dream, before I got pregnant with my first Jaden. He literally told us that Baby Shain was coming after Baby Jaden, and at that point we were struggling so deeply with infertility, I didn't know that any babies would come at all. But the dream felt very real and gave us hope. When we woke up, I told my husband the dream and we immediately decided to spell it the way we do, which is sort a yiddish take on it, rather than Irish. Because Shain is "Beautiful/Darling" in Yiddish, and we came up with his name, Shain Jordan, that morning, long before any babies, and Jaden even entered the horizon. But when Shain was born, probably before even, we realized Chaim Shir was right, not just because of honoring Ida, with whom my husband was extremely close, but also for my grandmother Shirley, whose Hebrew name was probably her russian name, Sonya. So he is named for them both. So my husband was worried that his mother wouldn't like the name, because it wasn't close enough to Ida. She waited past our first baby to name for her mother. But when we told her, she had tears in her eyes. It was perfect. Because that's what she remembered her mother singing to her, her entire life. Shayna, Shayna, Shayna. And did she sing it at the Bris? (Public Jewish Circumcision Ritual) Why yes she did. Twice. That is the power of the dream.

So why am I suddenly telling you all this, on this Christmas Eve Morning? We are not skiing today and I am about to go into the shower, before my family heads to the Hickory House for Breakfast. Why am I telling you this? Well I really have no idea. I started with the name Shira, which I have always loved because I am a singer. And I began thinking about Shain and the miraculous situation about his name. Maybe because I am less stressed when I am on vacation, and have more time to muse. But as I was writing and thinking about my Darling Shain, and Chanukah, I am reflecting that he is almost 18, the age of the characters in this little YA thing. He is graduating from High School and heading to college, as we await to hear from another six schools. My kid who is charming and headstrong, and smart, and a little bit reactive and overly certain. Who is lovely and conversant and joyful and funny. Who has an extremely strong Jewish Identity and emulates wanting to be a role model. Who is classic middle child, and has grown into adulthood before my very eyes. My West Wing, Big Brother, Survivor kid. Who doesn't read books, but can improv and fake his way through anything. Who can talk a dog off a meat truck. Somehow I am thinking about him this morning. And maybe saying a little prayer for when all my three beautiful children fall in love for the first time. At least the older two. My youngest needs to finish Harry Potter Seven (we are in the middle), re-watch all the Marvel and DC movies, learn his Hebrew for June, raise his grades in history and math, and he still swears he will have a girlfriend before the older brothers. Ya Never Know.... We will have to see what 2023 holds. A Bar Mitzvah, a High School Graduation, and now two kids in college. Its kind of a momentous time for me. Very profound and emotional. So why am I telling you this? Perhaps I find it more interesting in the moment than Eight Nights of Flirting. Perhaps you caught me in a sentimental moment. Perhaps.... In any case, wishing everyone a beautiful Seventh Night of Chanukah and a Merry Christmas. Me we all be about Families and Love and Miracles and everything good that comes with light. May we continue to be lights to one another and to know there is a light within us. May tonight feel holy to everyone - and may we carry that feeling forth. With blessings and love to all, from our home to yours.

[Jean Meltzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds is about a young, socially awkward, still-trying-to-figure-herself-out Jewish teen, named Shira. In an effort to spark a relationship with an older boy named, Oscar, she enlists the help of Nantucket’s most popular hottie, Tyler. Tyler, unfortunately, also happens to be the person who humiliated her as a pre-teen. Over the course of the book, however—with both Hanukkah and a seaside mystery serving as the backdrop—Tyler and Shira must come to reassess who they are, and what they actually want in life, and love.

Some Things I Loved About This Book:

*If I could only use one word to sum up Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds, it would be windswept. Everything about this book, from start to finish, reminded me that I was on the shores of Nantucket. The characters and their growing flirtation. The mystery of lost love, and a sailor. The large mansion, on the shore, littered with visiting family and Hanukkah magic. All of this combined with Reynold’s writing style—truly elegant and lovely—made me feel like I was constantly crashing beside waves during some epic winter storm.

*It’s unique! Truly, I haven’t really read any book quite like Eight Nights, yet—and I think that’s a good thing! And while I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have as much experience with YA as other genres, I feel like Reynolds did an excellent job creating a Hanukkah romance for a younger audience. Also, the banter between Shira and Tyler is just adorable. I kept wondering what it would have been like for me, as a teenager, to be reading this book… and I think I would have been full-on obsessed with both Tyler and Shira.

*I loved the little spin into genealogy, and a romantic mystery involving a sailor, that Tyler and Shira take together. It gives depth and flavor to the narrative, and also adds to that mysterious feeling of the setting.

*It wasn’t afraid to tackle some difficult topics, including parental pressure, anxiety, homophobia, dating, and sexuality. In short, and despite the fact that the book feels magical, it doesn’t veer away from heavier topics. That being said, you never feel weighed down by the issues.

*I adored how much effort, and energy, went into making Hanukkah a big family celebration for the Barbanel’s. It gave me all those typical Christmas feels, while still remaining remarkably centered in Jewish tradition. For that, I am very grateful that this book will be on our shelves! And I think fans of The Matzah Ball, searching for additional Hanukkah reads, will also enjoy this title.

This book is perfect for any young adult who loves romance and holiday romances. For Jewish young adults, especially, this book is a definite must. Also, anyone looking for a sweet and charming Hanukkah romance will not be disappointed. I also think Eight Nights would be an excellent buddy read, either with a friend over Winter Break or between parent/child this holiday season. A great way to connect, through the power of books, and the romance of Hanukkah!

All that being said, this is a book I am thrilled to recommend. Thank you Hannah Reynolds for writing it. I know that it is going to hold a special place in the heart of many readers.

[Fakiha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute winter read! But this one's not a Christmas romance but rather more of a Hanukkah romance!
I loved getting to learn more about Hannukah and read more about the Jewish culture/history, even though it was really brief and not the focus of the book. It's always nice to read something different and learn something new!
Shira is such a hopeless romantic but also really awkward, always a fun combo.
Tyler is confident and bold, or well that's what's on the outside.
Seeing the two of them becoming vulnerable and showing their flaws with each other and in the process becoming closer was so satisfying and nice as their relationship progressed really nicely.
Overall, a wholesome winter read :)

Read my full review here: Click Here!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much, it's exactly the right kind of messy teens I can still read as an adult. I also really appreciated the presence of family in a mostly non-toxic way. So much YA fiction omits family or it is toxic, and I think a lot of us have different or more complicated experiences and it's kind of nice to see that on the page once in awhile. Really liked this duology, hope there is more coming. Either way, I have really enjoyed getting to read this author again and hope that they continue to tell stories be it for adults or teens.

[BookNightOwl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. Enjoyed the trope.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read for the holidays. I also loved the portrayal of having a big family! RTC

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading other reviews most people really enjoyed this book. I did not. It seemed like from the beginning you knew what was going to happen but you just had to read the whole story to find out. There were no surprises in this book and it seemed like the author added a lot of Hanukkah information, some history of Nantucket, and a few plays performed by the families for entertainment.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable YA! Huge Jewish family in a gorgeous old home on Nantucket celebrating the winter holidays. There’s a little bit of history, a lot of family fun and a delightful romance. Perfect for fans of a Morgan Matson and Ashley Elston.

Librarian note: MC is a junior in HS and she’s crushing on college boys. Some alcohol and kissing.

Source: purchased Kindle book

[michelle (magical reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

read on my blog

rep: Jewish protagonist and side characters, Vietnamese-American side character, gay Jewish side character; (Jewish author)

**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

“That seems like a lot.”
“Or seems like something reasonable if you want to be comfortable touching people, a standard part of flirting.”
“Maybe I’ll invent a new kind of flirting where you stand six feet away and shout at each other.”

When I requested this book, I didn’t really know what to expect other than it sounded cute. As soon as I started reading it though, I couldn’t put it down and fell in love with it instantly. Full of heart and family, Eight Nights of Flirting was an adorable story about opening yourself up to others and finding love where you least expect it.

Shira Barbanel is horrible at flirting, but she’s determined to change that this Hanukkah so that she can finally make a move on her crush, Isaac. When she arrives at her grandparent’s estate in Nantucket, she begrudgingly allows Tyler Nelson, her former crush who rejected her years ago, to spend the night after a power outage. She talks him into giving her flirting lessons, and over the course of the next few days, he helps her learn to move past her self-consciousness.

Again, I didn’t really know what to expect but this book ended up being a call-out post for me/my younger self. Internally, Shira finds herself awkward and agonizes over her interactions with other people, especially with her crush. Tyler helps her realize that all of this internalized and that outwardly, this comes across as if she doesn’t want to interact with people on purpose. Instead, as he tells her, people are more concerned with their own lives than anything else. It was really nice to see Shira open herself up to others over time, including Tyler. She also reaches out to friends with whom she doesn’t usually talk to outside of school.

I also liked seeing how this impacts her dynamic with her large extended family. Although her entire family is very tightly knit, she can’t help but feel a little left out, especially since she doesn’t see her cousin Noah, the person she was closest to, as much now that he’s in college. She learns to focus on the moments she gets with her family as opposed to the moments where she misses them. I also liked seeing the chaos and the love amidst a large family.

As for the romance, Shira and Tyler’s relationship was my favorite part of the book! Two years ago, she worked up the courage to act on her crush of four years, but Tyler rejected her. Since then, she’s determined not to think of him at all, something she’s been successful at until this holiday season. As they spend more time together though, she realizes there’s more to him than his cheery playboy exterior.

I just really loved their dynamic. Shira’s bad at being her true self with other people, but since she’s so determined to not let Tyler get to her anymore, she speaks to him openly. In turn, Tyler feels like she’s the only person he can be himself around. Although it initially seems like he has a care-free attitude, we soon learn that he also doesn’t really get close to others. Their conversations were both heartfelt and funny, and I just loved their scenes together. There was one where I was almost screaming, like the tension…and I just loved the last chapter! It was such a cute way to end the story.

This book felt like a 2016 YA contemporary, and I mean that as a compliment! I feel like a lot of YA contemporaries now focus on the trope of it all, or maybe one plot line and the romance. And sure, this can be fun, I’m not denying that, but it was really refreshing to read a contemporary book that balances multiple aspects and has you deeply invested in every moment. There was a whole underlying plot line about one of Shira’s ancestors possibly being in love with a sailor on a Nantucket whaling ship, and I enjoyed it because it’s one of the ways Shira and Tyler bond.

Heartfelt and funny and romantic, Eight Nights of Flirting depicts what can happen when you open yourself up to other people. I loved the characters and the romance, and I think it’s now one of my favorite reads of the year! I can’t recommend Eight Nights of Flirting enough, especially if you’re looking for a sweet holiday rom-com with an adorable romance and fun family hijinks.

original review:

almost started crying at the last chapter, y'all this was so CUTE I loved it 😭

this reminded me of a 2016 ya contemporary (complimentary) in that it juggled many things alongside the romance but actually felt cohesive...idk how to explain it but this just hit in a way that books have not been hitting me lately lmao pls add it to your tbr lists!!

(my only complaint is that I wish shira were a senior...why do we always have 2-year age gaps in ya like someone in high school dating someone in college is so...the only reason i'm really letting this slide is that they've known each other for like 5 years)

[Toya (thereadingchemist)]

DNF at 60%. I'm in the minority here, but I just wasn't invested in this story nor the characters.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I think the title is a bit misleading because this book isn't only set during Hanukkah but I might just be nitpicky. Regardless, this was such a cute and wholesome romance about two old family friends. I loved how Shira and Tyler's relationship developed. Definitely recommend this one!

Also I headcanon Shira as demiromantic and demisexual because of the way she talks about attraction, her thoughts towards it and how much it matches my own experiences.

Rep: Jewish demiromantic demisexual cis female MC, Jewish gay cis male side character, white cishet male side character, various Jewish side characters, Asian American cishet female side character.

CWs: Mention of past infidelity, alcohol consumption. Minor: antisemitism, discussion of sexual content.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heartwarming, funny, and utterly charming holiday romance. While Christmas usually dominates the holiday romance genre, I loved that the MC in this story was Jewish, putting her and her big Jewish family and all their Hanukkah traditions are the forefront. I think it's smart that Reynolds had this Hannukah coincide with Christmas (which doesn't always happen at all) which I think helps make this appeal to anyone who celebrates, likes, or just appreciates that winter holiday magic.

Shira is an MC you can really root for and who felt very similar to who I was at that age. Struggling to make true friendships or know how to banter and flirt with boys, despite nothing outwardly being missing or 'wrong' with me. I liked that although you might want to label her some naive hopeless romantic, that she sticks to her guns and has very real expectations for a romantic partner that focus on friendship and comfortability, not just some sweeping romance or lustful dalliance. In that way, her view of what she wants in a partner was really admirable and more mature than what I think I thought I deserved or could expect at that age, so I hope this is a good example for teens reading this. Now, does she have some perhaps unrealistic expectations of people coming to her, or realizing they love her and that's the start of connections...sure...but again...I felt like it spoke to how I was at that age. I kept hoping people would just see how awesome I was and want to seek me out because I was too awkward about going to them. The logic isn't sound but you know...teenagers.

I also love that Shira provides readers with insight into other Jewish holidays, especially how Hannukah is actually one of the lower holidays, where the true Jewish high holidays, including our new year, are often completely ignored and unknown to others. While it's great to celebrate Hannukkah, there's no denying it's been elevated commercially and probably in family traditions so that Jewish families and children can still feel included in that winter holiday magic and celebration.

Now for the romance, I thought it was so cute. Yes, it's a bit of a slow burn, but I loved how Tyler held to his guns and knew his self-worth as their "practice" began to escalate. Tyler is the character we as readers and Shira too probably thought would just be the ute and charming one-note boy next door that Shira eventually falls for but he came with a surprising amount of depth that I found myself connecting to. Despite his persona and history, I loved his maturity with his feelings as the book progressed and I liked how he was constantly an advocate for Shira, wanting more for her, especially in helping her see how much she has to offer on her own.

I didn't realize this was a sequel of sorts to a previous book, so I will be picking up Noah's story ASAP to get the dish on the grandparents drama as that did feel a little confusing to pick up on here. Not confusing to the point where I couldn't follow Shira's story, but more so that I'm curious about the grandparent drama that we see on full display here that apparently began because of events in Noah's book.

I can't stop recommending this to everyone as a great holiday romance read and I think Jewish and non Jewish readers alike will love this story and Shira. Huge thanks to Penguin Teen and Razorbill Books for my finished copy!

[lj ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i devoured this. rtc

--------------------

"hey, shira."
"tyler." i dragged my suitcase another few feet.
"need any help?"
"no."

i love them so much.

okay let's backtrack. this is a ya hanukkah-themed romance. i am a jewish ace girl who usually isn't a huuuge fan of romances but loved this.

so, what is this about? we follow shira barbanel, a proud member of the big, boisterous, jewish barbanel family, who own the golden doors hotel. shira had a childhood crush on good-looking, charismatic tyler nelson, but was brutally rejected, and ever since she's hated him. but the two are snowed in one night at the golden doors, and something changes between them.

yes, their flirting-lessons deal was pretty unrealistic, but did i care? absolutely not.

these guys were so cute. i can't even explain it. the sledding scene? yes. but beyond the adorable romance, the family plotlines and the historical mystery bits were super interesting. the descriptions of the barbanel family's antics brought up so many good memories of my own family gatherings on hanukkah and passover. the wintertime vibes, the family love (and family drama), and the shira x tyler moments all made me so happy. i loved how shira was so prickly and grumpy and deep down insecure about social interaction and not sure what to do with her life. i loved tyler's charming persona and the sadness and loneliness underneath. they're so perfect together.

quotes that made me smile:

"when we returned to the great room, we heard 'for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand' coming from the phone's speakers, and tyler shot me a look. 'festive.'
actually, the song did feel festive to me, though i could never manage the key change. 'i mean, 90% of jewish holidays are about trying to survive and the rest are about trees, so we take what we can get.'
'trees?'
'sometimes, they're about surviving and trees.'"

"arranging the candles was a big deal in my family. i was into patterns, grandma liked alternating, and noah was exacting, though one year he did all orange candles on the eighth night, and i still hadn't forgiven him. but to be fair, we always had more orange candles left over than any other, and we had to get rid of them somehow." MY FAMILY DOES THIS EXACT THING DJSFSDJLKF WITH THE ORANGE CANDLES AND PATTERNS AND AHHH I LOVE THIS SM

"i liked christmas; i loved the happiness it brought to so many people. but it could feel overwhelming: the ceaseless music, the way people acted like i must be as excited about hanukkah, a minor holiday, as they were about christmas, but never noticed passover or the high holidays." same, shira. same.

"'take it.'
i regarded his hand the same i would a live wire splayed across the road. 'that seems like a lot.'
'or seems like something pretty reasonable if you want to be comfortable touching people, a standard part of flirting.'
'maybe i'll invent a new kind of flirting where you stand six feet away and shout at each other.' HAHA I LOVE THEM

"i smiled, trying to convey anytime and i would give my lifeblood for you and you are my one true love all at once, in a non-creepy manner."

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It took me a really long time to get into this story, for some reason that I can't define. But when I was sucked in, I was ALL in.

Very cute and perfect for this time of year, but I think overall I liked the first book just a little more. My absolute favourite thing is still the Barbanels and their extended family and how they all go around calling cousins the littles and the middles.

Every scene involving all the cousins or part of the family was a delight and that's pretty rare in YA.

Glad to see there's going to be another book in the series!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/ 5 stars



I like reading holiday romances in December. I love that this one focuses on Hanukkah. It is a YA Hanukkah romance. The narrator is 16-17 year old Shira (1st person POV). We get to experience her family holidays.

The story is set in Nantucket, which is such a fun setting. Her large family is so great. And the friendships are awesome. I also really enjoyed the Jewish aspect of the book. I loved seeing how her family celebrated Hanukkah. And I really enjoyed the romance. There is also a bit of a mystery.

Overall, if you are looking for a holiday romance that shows multiple December holidays this was such a good read!

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Eight Nights of Flirting has a fantastic premise and opening. Meeting her former crush who is charming and irresistible, Shira decides she has to ask him how to flirt. Because she's totally over him. Right? I feel like you might have an idea of how things will not go according to plan. I could empathize with Shira, with this secret language of flirting, and this self-confidence that we are supposed to impersonate. So what could go wrong when she asks Tyler to teach her to flirt?

And from the premise that we've set up alone, Eight Nights of Flirting is an entertaining and fast paced read. It's perfect for fans of To All the Boys I Loved Before. But while it's so easy to get caught up in the immaculate banter and the ways in which we fall in love, what I ended up enjoying the most were the themes. How for Shira and Tyler they have to expose the lies they've been telling themselves. Tyler who has become a chameleon to become well liked, but having lost himself. And Shira who is so convinced in what looks good, what should work, that what if it doesn't?

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

This was a charming YA holiday romance that takes place over Hanukkah on Nantucket Island. I REALLY enjoyed The summer of lost letters by this same author and there are some cameos from the MCs in that book found here. In this story we get to know 16 year old Shira as she gets stranded with her childhood crush, Tyler, at her family estate on the island for a few days. Tyler is a consumate flirt and Shira enlists his help to teach her how to flirt with her new crush Isaac. Lots of forced proximity, awkward teen moments and sweet gestures with a bit of a historical mystery thrown in (which I enjoyed a lot and was similar to the style of the author's last book). Recommended for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and great on audio. Much thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Joe Kessler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be a cute little Hanukkah read, but it's instead been a source of perpetual frustration and discomfort for me. The basic premise is that the narrator is desperate to get with the crush who'll be visiting her grandparents' house over winter break, but because she's convinced she's bad at flirting -- whatever that means -- she asks her hot jerk of a neighbor to give her some lessons on that first. Obviously, the two of them end up falling for one another instead, and the plot is full of those tired rom-com tropes about hurt feelings over miscommunication and mistaken ideas of the other person's seriousness / interest level.

I suppose I knew to expect all that going in, while also assuming from the title that this would be a festive Jewish love story. And that's true, to an extent. The main character is Jewish, as is her original purported romantic interest, and we get to see a lot of her big Jewish family celebrating the holiday together. But the guy she hangs out with for most of the book is Christian, and she spends quite a while educating him (and perhaps the imagined reader) on elements of Judaism 101. It feels more like a dry and unnecessary lesson than the rich #ownvoices immersion I'd ideally wanted from this novel.

My bigger issue concerns the ages of the ensemble. Our protagonist is a 16-year-old high school junior, whereas the young men opposite her are 18/19 and both in college. That's not an age-gap that I'd say needs to be inherently off-limits in fictional romance, but it's at a minimum problematic -- literally raising relevant problems -- in a way never addressed by the text. These people are at very different stages of their lives, and although the heroine balks when either of her beaus tries moving beyond kissing, the discussion is limited to what she wants / is comfortable with, not their respective maturity levels or the legality of the situation. No one bats an eye at her underage drinking with them, either. And given everyone's wealth in this exclusive Nantucket enclave, it all reads a bit like an exercise in the excesses of the uber-privileged.

Add to that the obnoxious behavior of the fellow Shira ultimately picks -- like repeatedly calling her by a nickname she's told him she doesn't like, a major red flag for ignoring of boundaries in general -- and a long subplot about research into local whaling history that ends with the girl insisting her interpretation of certain scant facts must be correct, and the whole thing is just a mess. It apparently functions as a loose sequel to the author's earlier YA piece The Summer of Lost Letters too, and while I haven't read that one, I think it would have taken a great deal of returning good will to get me to enjoy this follow-up.

[Content warning for homophobia.]

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[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Hardback

This was a wholesome YA Hanukkah book.

It starts off at the airport where Shira sees her sorta nemesis Tyler. She had a huge embarrassing crush on him when she was 14 and when she professed her “love” it didn’t go as she had hoped…mortifying her for years.

Due to unfortunate circumstances there is now forced proximity between Shira and Tyler.

Their evolution over the course of this story was really sweet. I loved how they matured and grew in their relationship despite Shira initially looking at Tyler as an enemy.

This was definitely more of a slower paced novel than I usually read. This book had very little steam. There was some kissing but nothing over the top…making it perfectly ok for younger readers.

I wasn’t very invested in the letters / family / history that were tied into the story. I just wanted more of Shira and Tylor. However, the reveal at the end about the contents in the box and the meaning behind them was cool. I liked that.

This was a solid read especially for a younger audience. There are a lot of YA Hanukkah reads, so it was refreshing to see this book being read by so many this year.

Thanks to Razorbill and Books Forward for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. The content of this review is solely my own.

[kate lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 🌟 (only because i loved the first book more so it didn't feel right to give them the same rating)

this was so cozy and everything i wanted it to be i want it to be winter (or as winter as it can get in florida) NOW

i think this is the absolute perfect holiday read if you're in the mood for something light and fun. i think because the timeline is a bit shorter than other YAs (e.g. those over the span of the whole summer or a whole school year), i was still left wanting a bit more from the story. despite that small nitpick, this was still so so enjoyable and i flew through it. i'm crossing my fingers hannah reynolds' writes more books in this world with this family because i love what her past two books have been giving me. the nantucket setting, huge family hysterics, mysteries from the family's pasts, and sweet romances make me want more from this author and her little world!

[Namratha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixteen-year old Shira Barbanel has arrived in Nantucket for the annual Hannukah family gathering. But a snowstorm, delayed flights and power outage means that Shira has to open her house and hearth to her handsome, popular, one-time crush and next-door neighbor, Tyler Nelson. The same Tyler who rejected Shira’s confession rather painfully back in the day.

But Shira no longer hankers after Tyler. She has set her sights on her grand-uncle’s steady assistant Isaac and is convinced that the holiday season will be the perfect time for Isaac to discover her hitherto hidden charms. Easier said than done because Shira’s flirting skills are abysmal and the only person who can help her through is the King Flirt himself, Tyler. They make a wary deal to help each other and pave the way for a cozy and let’s face it, predictable holiday read.

This is my token December rom-com read and while I usually gravitate towards Christmas themed fare, I could not resist picking up a Hannukah based one this time. And it didn’t disappoint. I learnt a lot about the Hanukkah customs and traditions, enjoyed the chaotic warmth and madness of family gatherings with simmering undertones, the winter wonderland that is Nantucket described in affectionate delight by the author and the burgeoning friendship between Shira and Tyler, which will obviously grow into something more profound.

Sweet, comforting and tinged with always appreciated slashes of the right kind of feminism.

[ضحى الحداد · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked the first book, you will like this book .. less
This story is about Shira , she is a really nice girl, except that she is awkward and doesn't know how to act with people, one day she gets snowed in with her former crush turned enemy Tyler, so they both make a deal, Tyler with teach Shira how to flirt to get the attention of the guy of her dreams Isaac and she has to arrange a meeting with him and her uncle who owns the company of Tyler dreams .. during the eight days of Hanukah both Tyler and Shira will realize that their connection is undeniable

while I liked the main idea of the story Tyler was such a jerk, who laughs in the face of someone who tells them they like them ?? LAUGH !! I couldn't digest the idea that Shira will settle for this guy, but I'm glad that the grandmother and grandfather from the first book are finding their way back together

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book dragged for longer than it needed to at integral parts, the story needed to get out of its own way to allow the readers to swoon over the delightful enemies-t0-lovers trop of Shira and Tyler that we covet and throw in the Hallmark-esque snow falling in Nantucket amid the backdrop of Hannukah and hot chocolate and all is well. But the additional family mystery derailing the story about whaling and family history, not having it. I want to be romanced and done.

It's got the most adorable cover and title and right from the start, we know what we're getting and we're ready for it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, YA romance centered around Chanukah and Christmas. The insecurities of the main character were believable, but the story was predictable. I was able to suspend my disbelief that a college student would be that interested in a 16 year old so this was a quick, entertaining, and utterly forgettable read.

[vale garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you PRH International for the free EARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars!!

this was everything i love in ya romance and more omg... first of all the mc was so so relatable, i loved her from the very first moment. this book was fun, light hearted and incredibly cute and fluffy, definitely a PERFECT READ FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!! i also loved how much i learned about hanukkah and other jewish holidays, it felt so important to see tbh! now tyler... wow what a man, your honor i love him! a cute fluffy sunshine boy who is also flirty and always smiling but truly he is lonely and has never had the chance to be genuine with anyone? be still my poor heart...

this was also a childhood crush to enemies to friends to lovers kind of thing and WOW did i absolutely adore it??? i wish there would have been an epilogue of them a year later or something but it was honestly so cute and heartfelt and genuine, that i couldn't put this book down. i just wanted to keep reading it!

the side quest they have going on was also so fun to read and it never felt like it took away from the plot or like it needed to be bigger, it was perfectly set up and gave the story so much more charm.

i do wish we could have seen more of the individual cousins, like maybe more david or even more ethan, even more of noah and Shia and their relationship, but overall this is such a cute book of learning to love yourself and learning that it is okay for you to take up space, as well as a cute romance that develops perfectly with a big family going around making everything fun. definitely a must read for the holidays!!!

[Marjie Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a cozy holiday read, look no further!

I’ve become super picky about YA books lately, and I’ve always been picky about romance. If there’s too much angst in the story, I just don’t feel like I can relate. If there’s too much fluff, I wonder whether the book was worth my time. And it’s ok that a lot of YA books are not for me - they’re not written for me! And I’m ok with not being a huge romance reader - I love that it is the perfect genre for many others!

However, Hannah Reynolds’ books hit the perfect spot for me. I find her teenage lead characters to be relatable and they resonate with my memories of being that age. That’s a rare and special feeling. This was definitely true of Eight Nights of Flirting, while also being cozy and heartwarming and a quick read. I learned more about Hanukkah history and traditions (and the history of whaling in Nantucket!), and Christmas and New Years also featured heavily in the story. It felt absolutely perfect to read this week.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Isn't there a way to make him fall madly in love with me without having to, I don't know, talk?"

I really enjoyed this Hanukkah-themed holiday romance. This was a nemesis/ex-crush helps FMC get the man of her dreams. Or the man of her supposed dreams...

This book was a companion, of sorts, to The Summer of Lost Letters. This book follows Shira, who is cousins to Noah, from The Summer of Lost Letters. There was a running side plot in this book that I felt came out of nowhere and now I know why. It's because I didn't read SoLL and it's from that book. I would say for a better reading experience, read that book first, but it's definitely not necessary.

I cannot believe how relatable Shira was. My mouth was hanging open multiple times because it sounded like this book was inside my head. I have had so many of the thoughts that Shira shared throughout the book. It was so crazy to feel like someone else understood everything in my mind. Her thoughts on flirting and dating and everything in between are definitely things I've thought about. It was oddly therapeutic to read about someone who thought the same as me, if if she's fictional.

"I had done it...I had touched Isaac. I was a superhero."
There were so many funny moments throughout this book. As Shira struggled to understand how to express her feelings in the form of flirting, her thoughts were again, so relatable and hilarious. As well, Shira's big family with all the kiddos was a lot of fun to experience. As someone that comes from a big extended family, I love books that feature a big family and all the craziness that comes with it.

Shira and Tyler's relationship was interesting to watch unfold. Tyler was easy-going for most of the book but he was also very guarded. Always putting on a show. Watching in relax and open up around Shira as she became more vulnerable about her dating life and thoughts was really nice. They grew together and built a relationship together. Plus, jealous Tyler was amazing.

At first, I was unsure why the whole snowed-in plot was mentioned when it was such a small part of this book. However, after finishing it and reflecting upon it, I see how it affected the trajectory of Shira and Tyler's relationship. They needed time to put aside the things of the past, even just for a second, to strike "the deal." The forgiveness felt a little fast on Shira's part, but I understand needing the plot to move along.

My one big complaint about this book was the lack of details. There were so many fun and romantic scenes that were missing that punch for me because they lacked details or were too short. Sometimes, the scenes would just move along too quickly to the next thing before I had time to really enjoy where the book was at. I would have preferred more details, more time in scenes to really draw out the emotions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it to those who enjoy holiday romances!

Similar books: Better Than the Movies (enemy helps FMC get the other guy), By Your Side (locked in a room together), You Can Go Your Own Way (locked in a room together), Adorkable (flirting tips), 10 Blind Dates (holiday romance, big family vibes)

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely precious!